Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Either that, or they're trying to park a player on LTIR who was healthy enough to be traded. Pick your poison.
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And both teams had decent cover on their shenanigans as the players that were out had legitimate major surgeries that could have return dates massaged into the playoffs for cap purposes. Kane however has a sports hernia in which the longest recover I can find is 16 weeks, but most sources say 6-12 weeks. So even if they hold his surgery back until the day the season starts, he will be cleared prior to the all star game (and likely before Christmas). Going to be hard to make that equivalent to back surgery.
The other thing oilers fans miss with this “plan” of theirs is that in order for it to be a good plan, you need three things:
1. The player is good enough to step into the lineup in the playoffs and be able to make an actual impact.
2. Be able to use the LTIR cap space to make an impact signing.
3. Be a deep enough team to actually make the playoffs without your LTIR player.
Considering the year that Vegas got cute with the cap with Jack Eichel, the pile up of other injuries was a major part of why they didn’t make the playoffs, it’s doubtful that Edmonton can withstand short injuries and still be deep enough to make the playoffs.